Socket casing and switch structure



1952 c. 1.. DUPUIS ET AL SOCKET CASING AND SWITCH STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 11. 1947 TiGnE.

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mvENToKs. Comm]: Muwsnanuvuns. AusT'aN HAsTl E.

Patented Oct, 7, 1952 UNITED STATE Conrad Laurier Dupuis, Eastv iew, Ontario, and AustinI Iastie,*Carleton Place, ntario, Canada:

a Application August 11,1947; serial No. 767,982

.In Canada August 12.1946

1 1 This invention relates to socket casings and switch structure more particularly of the type employed for electric lightsockets.

In the art of manufacture, socket bodies for electric lights arecommonly constructed in two sections in order jthatjthe switch 'unit may be detachably connected to the socket. Apart from the fact thatlsuch typeQjof construction requires separately fabricated sections and sectionally formed insulators, the sections require to be secured togetherbyscrews or other connecting means As a result then, structure of thatcharacter isfreque'ntly diificult to separate or as: semble. Further, the' cap or cover member, at times, becomes'disconnected from the main body and unless restoredto its proper position immediately, may result in a short circuit,

One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to avoid andovercome the foregoing and otherbbjec'tio'ns and disadvantages by providing a device of this characterwherein the socket body or casingflis constructed in single unit form. 'f, I

Another objectpf the present invention is to provide adevice of this {character wherein the insulator for the interiorjof the socketis in single unit form. v

A further object of thei zresentv invention is to provide a deviceof thislcharacter wherein the switch lever is maintained inan voperative position without the aid of'screws or the like.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a device 'ofjthis character wherein the switch lever is not-detachable in the on? or oif position but may easily and readily be.-removed for jswitch removing purposes when required or desired; 1 V

Yet anotherobject offithe present invention is to provide a devicefof this characterQwhichis novel and simple in form, rugged .in'nature and one that will themore satisfactorily perform the functions required of it.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become apparent as the description proceeds and the details of the invention become known, the device consists essentially in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described with more particular detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view ofan embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1, with a portion of the socket and insulator being shown in section.

2 Claims. (01. coc -51.16)

l on

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. l. v Fig. 4 is a side elevational viewof the switc operating unit shown partly in section V Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig.4 with the upper insulating disc or block partly broken away for purposes of showing structure therebeneath. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing the switch in the on position.

Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar toFig. 6showing-the switch'in the "01? position.* v .Fig. 8 is an elevational view partly insection as seen from'substantially the right-hand side f Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7. V Fig. 10 is a plan viewof the switch lever shown in detached form. I Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modified form of switch lever, and i mounting for the contact brush.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings wherein the present invention is disclosed and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the variousillustrations; the numeral [5 indicates the switch'housin'gjor' casing as a whole while the numeral 16 indicates the switch unit as a whole.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a modified form of Importantly, 'the j housing or casing 15 comprises a hollow body or shell I1 shaped, spunor molded of any suitable material in single unit form. The base of the casing is provided with an opening l8 for insertion of the electric switch unit while the upper wall is curved inwardly and terminates in a collar with opening l5 for the reception of thefwell-known insulator 2i] and through which the conductor leads pass. An opening 2| is provided'in the side wall and it is through this latter opening that the switch lever, 22 is adapted to extend to operatively connect the switch'operating member later referred to. The lower sectionof the casing may be provided with a stop shoulder as'well as a threaded section 23 for purposes of connecting a lampshade or the like thereto, if desired. v

The switch unit l6 comprises lamp receiving socket or shell 24 threaded as at 25 for 'detachably connecting an electric lamp (notshown) while mounted on the socket body and secured thereon is aninsulating disc or block 26. v. .Conductively connecting the socket 24 and extending upwardly therefrom is terminal post 21, such post being provided-with the well knowncom ductor lead connectingscrew 28.

Mounted above the insulating disc or block 25 and in spaced relationship thereto is a further insulating disc or block 29 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 8). This further insulating disc is supported by terminal post 21 and spacer post 30, the post being formed as an integral part of the socket 24 and is provided with an insulator in the form of a sleeve 32.

The lamp contact: which is. designated by the numeral 33 extends through the insulating disc 26 and terminates on the upper side of the discin the form of a brush contact while plate 36, provided with terminal screw 31 extends downwardly through insulating disc 29: toprovide a brush contact 38 underneath: theinsulator or disc 29. An insulating disc 39 is disposed upon the upper side of disc 29 for" insulating purposes. The spaced contacts 35 and 38, it is observed, are in vertical alignment one with the other" onthe inner surfaces of the disc members 26 and 29 so that when the contact arm,v later referred to, is moved in-toqengagement with. such contacts the switch is in. an. .on position and. a. circuit therethrough'compl'e'ted; andwhen the. arm. is moved out of. engagement with the contacts 35. and 38 the-switchisin. the 011" positionand. the circuit is open.

The. contact arm iust referred to. is indicated by numeral. 4| and. comprises a. substantially; U shaped member composedof. conductive material interposed between. disc. members 25 and; 29 and I normal onY and off? positions the. member 45 as. well as the key 22 are in non-radial. alignment with theaxis of the body member...

Compressionspring 49 (see. Figs. 6,. "l and 8)., is designed to engage indent. 511 formed. at the outer end of contact arm 41' whil'ethe opposite end of the spring engages the: offset tongue 5! of. operating member 45. With. the'arrangement just. described and by reference to (i and. 7, itlwiii beseen. that when contact arm or brush 4t is in. anon or off. position the spring 49' is beyond fdead center. Thus when member 45 is moved tola point beyond; ".dead center, the compression spring. 49 will force the contact arm 4| either into or out of enga ement with contacts 35 and 38 as the case may be. In. order to limit travel movement of member 45 during operation, such. member is provided with an integrally formed. stop pin 53,. the pin being movable in thearcuate recess 54. formed in the insulating disc or block 29. Thus asv member 45. is moved backward or forward through the op eration of the switch lever or key 22,. the travel of member 45 is limited by pin 53- engaging the endsof the arcuate recess 54.

In order to disconnect switch lever or key 22 from engagement with operating member 45, the member 45 is moved to a substantially "dead center position where member 45 with key 22 are out of radial alignment with the bodymember. When this is accomplished key 22-, its engaging recess and the side walls are in parallel and radial alignment with member 45 centrallyof opening 2| when the key 22 is removed by an outwardpull after which unit 16 is removable as a whole.

As observed in the plan view in Fig. 10, the lever or key 22 is provided with an elongated slot 56 for engagement by the member 45 while the sides thereof are of arcuate form as indicated at 51. The outer ends of the lever are provided with knob like formations 58 while adjacent-the: outen' ends of. the surface or face may beroughermdi on grilledas. at 59 to. guard against finger slippage.

In its normal operative position then lever or key 22 is maintained in engagement with member- 45 by reason of its novel position and contour and. the fact. that in its on or off position; fiheislot 56; is. parallel with member 45 (see Figs. 6 and 7) but out of radial alignment with the opening 2| inthe casing. Thus the key 22 is" maintained in engagement with member 45 by its. nonsra'dial position with respect to opening 2!, plus the arcuate shoulders 51 and the urgency ofspring, 4.9.

As more particularly illustrated in. Fig. 2, an insulator G0 is provided. for the interior ofv the casing. l5, to insulate the. switch unit [6 where the casing, is constructed of. metal- Thisv insulator is of. single. unit form and covers the entire. inner surface ofcasing. and is provided with an opening 61' at its. base for the insertion. of the switch unit [6,. aside wall opening 63. for the reception. of the fever. or key 22. and a top wall opening, 5.4. through which the conductor leads extend.

Should it, become'necessary or desirable, the key 22 may be secured to. the member 45 by means. of. a. screw or. the like. In Fig. 11 therefore the-outer endof member 45 is provided with an upturned lip 55 which is. engaged by a. counter-sunkscrew 56.

In. the modified; form of. movable contact brush mounting, illustrated in Fig. 12,, the inner endof the member 45 is provided. with a slot 61, such sl'ot beingjfrictionally engaged by the substantially V shaped end 68 of bar 6'9, the bar in turn being wound by compression'spring 49 which. butts the indent 50. The modified forms shown in Figs. II and 12' are utilized in combinationv in order to guard against a short circuit through member 66,, the bar 69 being constructed of. non-conductive material.

From the. foregoing it willbe seen that we provide a casing or body in singlepiece. unitary form with a single piece unitary insulator lining the interior thereof wherein the switch lever or key is detachably. and operatively connected. to the switch unit through a side wall opening of the casing without the aid of screws, pins or otherwise and' wherein the switch operating lever or keyv is readily detachable. for purposes of removing'o'r replacing the switch unit It as a whole.

Many changes may be made in the above and many apparently widely different embodiments may be constructed without departing from the spirit or the essential characteristics of the inventron. The present disclosm'e therefore is intended to be interpreted as illlustrative rather than restricti've and that all changes coming within the meaning'and range of equivalency of the claims is intended to be embraced therein.

What we claim as our invention is:

i. An electric lamp socket casing and switch structure comprising aunitary hollow switch casing cylindrical shell open at one end and curved over and inwardly and provided with a conductor receiving opening at the opposite end, a lamp receiving socket member endwise removably fitted in the open end and presenting a threaded opening for reception of a lamp bulb, spacedapart insulating discs carried at the opposite end of the lamp socket member, a terminal connector on the lamp receiving socket portion, a terminal member carried by one of said insulating discs presenting a central lamp engaged contact within and insulated from the lamp receiving socket member and having a switch contact on the opposite side of the insulating disc, a second terminal connector on the spaced-apart insulating disc having a switch contact opposite the first-mentioned switch contact, said cylindrical shell being provided with a switch lever opening through one side at a location communicating with the clearance between the spaced-apart insulating discs, a switch operating member swingably mounted intermediate its ends between the insulating discs with an outer end presented toward the switch lever opening and with said switch operating member entirely within the confines of the spaced-apart insulating discs to thus permit endwise fitting and removal of the lamp receiving socket member with respect to the cylindrical shell switch casing, a substantially U -shaped contact arm disposed between the insulating discs having pintles at its ends received in bearing openings in said discs with the contact arm swingable to a closed position between the spaced-apart oppositely disposed switch contact portions and to an open position away from said switch contact portions, a spring bearing within and near the opening through the side wall thereof, the switch operating lever being provided with arcuate side walls engageable with lateral sides of said opening for retaining said key in the body member in off and on positions of the switch.

CONRAD LAURIER DUPUIS. AUSTIN HASTIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,646,964 Hopkins Oct. 25, 1927 1,852,772 Gaynor Apr. 5, 1932 1,935,394 Elwell Nov. 14, 1933 2,244,359 Frank et al June 3, 1941 2,352,248 Bramming June 27, 1944 

